Butcher Happy After Good Start

There was a lot of doom and gloom about our prospects before the start of the season but we have made a solid start to the league campaign. We are currently sitting in eighth place on nine points from nine games. Terry Butcher is quoted as saying he is happy with averaging a point a match but that he is 'hopeful of doing better'.

Celebrations against Dundee

The good start to the league has silenced critics in the media and fans of other clubs who predicted we would be cast adrift at the bottom. Instead, we are five points off the relegation place and have produced some magnificent football. Indeed, there is easily a case to be made for us having more points and pushing for fourth or fifth place in the table.

The League Cup, never our favourite event, has been successfully negotiated so far with a 2-0 cruise at East Fife. We are away to Aberdeen in the next round in a match that is tough but definitely winnable. There are reasons to avoid extra Cup games like the plague but Butcher and the team seem to be taking it fairly seriously. If we manage to sneak a win at Pittodrie, the momentum and revenue we earn could prove crucial.

Of course, we haven't had to deal with any suspensions or major injury problems yet. Daniel Sengewald hasn't played enough to be missed when he's not there and Khaled Kemas will be like a new signing when he eventually regains fitness. The absence of Scott Leitch often causes problems but the performance against Dundee last Saturday proves that our midfield can overcome this loss.

The rest of the 'Well bandwagon is also looking good - the U21s won at Livingston on Monday night to go second top of the table. Could a league title be arriving at Fir Park this season? Probably not, but it does show that we have more youngsters who are capable of performing coming through our system.